QUICK! GO BACK A CHAPTER GUYS! I replaced the previous apology note with the NEW CHAPTER! Go back and read 24 before reading 25 (this one is 25!) ! You have been warned!

Hello again my lovely friends! As noted in the last chapter, I will be posting 3 new chapters today as my Christmas present to you all/apology for the ridiculously long wait that none of you deserved whatsoever. So, this is number 2 of 3!

And I regret that it is sort of short. But 24 was very long, and 26 is also rather long... so it all balances out I think?!

Read, relax, review!

(still no page break?... so awk...)

~o0o~

25.

As the day progressed, the sky began to darken and maintain a sense of doom and foreboding. The expansive dome above was an angry grey, and heavy clouds (much heavier than the white mist of the morning) had begun to approach from the distance, heading from the north to the west towards DunBroch. A storm was coming.

"I hope those clouds don't come further south," Rapunzel worriedly expressed, anxiously playing with her hair as she and Jack peered from window. "If the Festival was cancelled… my people would be heartbroken… not to mention how tiresome it would be to fight Pitch in the rain."

Jack, feeling like it was the right thing to do, wrapped his arm around the golden haired girl. "It's just a little rain," he assured the her. "Rain is good…We'll be ok."

But Jack was seriously doubtful that the clouds would bring 'a little rain'. He prided himself with being good with weather, especially now with his winter powers, but he knew anyone could see that the oncoming storm would be anything but little.

…

E. Aster Bunnymund restlessly paced the conference room inside the Burgess palace. The evening sunlight poured in through the windows, illuminating the grey hairs that were starting to appear on his head- the result of the stressful job he held. Across the room, a man with far-whiter hair yet seeming less stressful worries sat leisurely lounging in a recliner chair at the vast conference table.

"Stop pacing Bunny," North spoke up. "It vill not do you any good, and you are putting me on the edge."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you. I'll just sit down beside you and we can both twiddle our thumbs and watch as the world around us crumbles into oblivion!" the Burgess ruler shot back frustratingly, throwing his hands into the air in exasperation.

"This is vat I am talking about," North stated calmly, leaning back further in his chair and crossing his arms. "You overwork yourself. Do not forget Bunny, that I once stood where you stand, leading this kingdom as you lead it now."

"But ya don't lead it now, mate," Bunny spoke, his voice softer now, shaking his head. The man turned towards the window, clasping his hands together behind his back. "And things are much different now from when you ruled, Nick," he added, his voice beginning to rise again. "If you haven't noticed, we're in the bloody middle of a war!"

"Have you no hope the Guardians will prevail?" North asked, genuinely surprised and curious.

Bunnymund snorted, looking over his shoulder at his companion. "The Guardians- ha. They're the ones that started this whole mess, now aren't they? Now, granted, Stoic's boy has a good head on his shoulders, and Rapunzel's a sweet little shelia…but those two would be better off studying to one day rule their own kingdoms, not spending their time meddling in myth and magic."

"And what of Merida?" North asked indignantly. "I know you do not like Jack, but even you must admit the boy has got something special inside him-"

"They're too young, North! All four of 'em are!" Bunny argued, turning around finally. "Warren was founded on certain principals, and the rank of Guardian was created with the purposes of being 'pillars of peace' and 'producing creativity and innovation' and 'guarding the people'- taking care of all the personal, public areas so that the rulers could worry about other matters entirely." Bunny ran a hand through his greying hair. "But things have changed so, so much since Warren began. It's been decades, centuries. Our way of living is not what it was. Our kingdoms hardly interact as they once did. And our Guardians? They are children, North. They're kids," Bunny spoke in an accusatory way, rolling his sleeves up and placing his palms on the table. "Your insane brother has revolted against them, against us, and against the whole bloody system. Innocent people are getting hurt. And our 'Guardians' have barely scratched Black in retaliation, because they are off treasure hunting for valueless objects of the past."

Bunnymund didn't wait for North to respond, but the old man had nothing to say. The Burgess ruler stood up and turned around, crossing his arms and looking back out at the stormy sky, at the dark clouds moving swiftly through towards the west. "There's a reason people say the past is in the past. It's time to move on. The other rulers and I are in agreement- once this is all over, one way or another, a new system must be devised."

At this North stood. "Aster, you cannot be serious. Disbanding the Guardians completely? How vill that improve things? The only reason Warren has inter-kingdom relations at all is because of them! And vat do you rulers plan to do to the Crystal? To the Moon Magic?"

"All details for a later discussion," Bunnymund waved aside with a shrug. "The point is, old man, though tradition remains important, change is coming. And it's coming fast."

The man reached for his coat resting in a chair before walking to the door and turning the handle. "Now, if you will excuse me- the other rulers and I are meeting to plan war strategy. Black is going down, with or without our 'so-called Guardians.' "

"This is not our fight," North protested, his face set in a determined scowl.

"It bloody well is! They're our kingdoms, our people, suffering at the hands of Pitch Black! The Guardians aren't doing anything to stop him, and so we must. We didn't start this fight, but we will certainly finish it! And then the Guardians will be finished as well!"

And with that, the Burgess ruler stormed out of the room, slamming the door defiantly behind him, leaving North alone to slowly sink back into his chair.

~o0o~

So very short, but I wanted it separate from the other chapters, since it didn't really fit with them. Actually rather proud of this one, to be honest.

Once again, if I missed any guest reviews, please let me know! Still working on those with accounts... I'm sorry :/

Still loving the holiday season as I blare Christmas music throughout my entire house...

iceprincess